State to introduce heart health programme named after late actor Puneeth Rajkumar

BENGALURU: Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has announced that the department will introduce heart health sceme, called the ‘Karnataka Ratna Dr Puneeth Rajkumar Hrudaya Jyothi Yojane’.

Addressing a press conference, the minister said the programme will be implemented in two ways — hub and spoke and installation of AED devices in public places. The hub and spoke model will work effectively in preventing sudden heart attacks, he said..

“It is very important to treat heart attack patients within the golden hour. We have witnessed a trend recently that more young people are suffering from heart attacks. According to a study, 35 per cent of heart attack victims are in their 40s. Considering the current situation, it is my priority to look into the issue and take the right steps to save our people”, he said.

“The Health Department has taken a significant step in this regard with an objective to save as many lives as possible in case of heart attack and also to ensure treatment is provided on time and within the golden hour. We are implementing Karnataka Ratna Dr Puneeth Rajkumar Hrudaya Jyothi Yojane in the name of Puneeth Rajkumar. the program will be implemented in two ways — hub and spoke and installation of AED devices in public places. The hub and spoke model will work effectively in preventing sudden heart attacks”, he said.

The Health Minister said, “We have made a total of 85 hospitals at the district and taluk level as spoke centers. Ten Hubs will be created in 16 superspecialty hospitals, including Jayadeva Hospital. Anyone who has symptoms of chest pain can visit a spoke center and get an ECG done immediately”.

“Also, through AI technology by Tricog, we will be able to detect if their condition is critical or not, within just 4-5 minutes. If the patient is in critical condition, Tenecteplase injection will be provided free of cost at spoke centers at taluk hospitals. This injection is very effective in preventing sudden heart attacks. Thus, this treatment will help prevent immediate heart attacks for those who are in a critical stage”, Dinesh Gundu Rao noted.

The minister pointed out that private hospitals charge Rs 30,000-45,000 for one Tenecteplase injection whereas the government will give it free of cost to patients. “After treatment at the taluk or district hospital spoke centers, if further treatment is needed, we will send such patients to superspecialty hospital hub centers with the help of an ambulance. Advanced cardiac treatments including angiogram or angioplasty can be obtained at these hubs”, he said.

Below Poverty Line (BPL) card holders will get free treatment in hubs of superspecialty hospitals and APL cardholders can get free treatment under Arogya Karnataka Ayushman Bharat Health Card, he added.

Forty five spoke centers have been linked to three hubs of Jayadeva Heart Institute. These will be connected to the hubs of Jayadeva Institutes in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Kalaburagi Hospitals. “Further, we have created seven hubs including 13 superspecialty hospitals in collaboration with our medical college hospitals and some private medical institutions. To ensure coverage, 40 spoke centers are linked, which includes 34 taluk and six district hospitals”, he said.

Dakshina Kannada

Hubs: Yenepoya Hospital/KMC Manipal/Father Muller Super Specialty Hospital.

Spoke Centers: Dakshina Kannada and Udupi District Hospitals, Sullia, Belthangady, Kundapura, Karkala Taluk Hospitals.

Shivamogga

Hubs: Sahyadri Narayana Hospital/SIMS Super Specialty Hospital.

Spoke Centers: Sagara, Thirthahalli, Soraba, Kadur, Koppa, Tarikere Taluk Hospitals.

Davanagere

Hubs: Shymanuru Shivashankarappa Institute of Medical Sciences/Basaveshwara Medical College Super Specialty Hospital.

Spoke Centers: Harihara, Jagalur, Haveri, Shiggaon, Challakere Taluk Hospitals and Chitradurga District Hospital.

Ballari

Hub: VIMS Super Specialty Hospital.

Spoke Centers: Siruguppa, Kudligi, Hosapete, HB Halli Taluk Hospitals.

Dharwad

Hubs: Narayana Heart Center/KIMS Hubbali Super Specialty Hospital.

Spoke Centers: Dharward District Hospital, Kundgol, Yellapur, Haliyal, Nargund, Shirahatti Taluk Hospitals.

Bagalkot

Hub: S Nijalingappa Medical College Super Specialty Hospital.

Spoke Centers: Bagalkot District Hospital, Mudhol, Hungund, Yelburga, Kushtagi Taluk Hospitals.

Belagavi

Hub: KLE Prabhakar Kore Super Specialty Hospital.

Spoke Centers: Bailhongal, Savadati, Ramdurga, Gokak, Nippani, Hukkeri, Khanapur Taluk Hospitals.

Bengaluru

Hub: Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology, Bengaluru.

Spoke Centers: Ramanagar, Chikkabalapura, Tumakuru, Kolar District Hospitals. Devanahalli, Doddaballapur, Nelamangala, Kanakapura, Magadi Taluk Hospitals; Chintamani, Koratagere, Sira, Madhugiri, Mallur, Srinivaspura Government Hospitals.

Mysuru

Hubs: Jayadeva Hospital, Mysuru Super Specialty Hospital.

Spoke Centers: Mandya, Hassan, Madikeri, Chamarajanagar District Hospitals; KR Nagar, Hunsur, Periyapatna, HD Kote, Nanjanagudu, T Narsipura Taluk Hospitals; Channarayapatna, SR Patna, KR Pete, Pandavapura, Holenarsipur Government Hospitals.

Kalaburagi

Hubs: Jayadeva Hospital, Kalaburagi Super Specialty Hospital.

Spoke Centers: Bidar, Yadgir District Hospitals; Aland, Afzalpur, Jevargi, Sedam, Chittapur, Chincholi, Sindagi, Humnabad, Bhalki, Basavakalyan, Sholapur, Shahpur, Devadurga Taluk Hospitals.

The minister said, “Together, we will form 10 hubs and spoke centers in 85 taluk and district hospitals across 31 districts of the entire state. The intention of the programme is to save the lives of those suffering from sudden heart attacks in the name of Puneeth Rajkumar”.

“As another part of Puneeth Rajkumar Hrudaya Jyothi Programe, we have decided to install AED — Automated External Defibrillator devices. We will install these self-powered defibrillators in public places including bus stands, railway stations, airports, Vidhana Soudha, courts, etc.

“Apart from Bangalore, these AED devices will be placed in public places in major cities of the state, in highly crowded areas. We have planned to install 50 AED defibrillators in public places across the state. It is estimated that the purchase of a single AED device can cost up to Rs 1,10,000. Procurement of these devices is in progress”, he noted.